Nonreemptying bottle



- pril 26, 1938. y L, L, I Ewls 2,115,391

NONREEMPTYING BOTTLE Filed Aug. 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet A1 Lesief' L. Lem/Is' April 26, 193s.

`1.-. l... I Ewls y 2,115,391

NONREEMPTYING BOTTLE Filed Aug. "19, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 nfucfnm Lesisf L. LEWIS Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIE Application August 19,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers of the type designed to prevent misrepresentation regarding the contents and as such is in the form of a non-refillable receptacle.

In the art to which the present invention relates efforts have been popularly made to prevent the refilling of receptacles, such as bottles, in order to avoid the possibility of either the offering of a spurious substitute or the illegal marketing of a refilled bottle or otlier receptacle. Quite extensive efforts have, accordingly, been exerted in the direction of preventing the refilling of bottles and like receptacles, and containers and such receptacles have come to be commonly known as non-refillable bottles even though it is Well known that it is practically impossible to actually prevent relling because of the advance that has been made in the welding of glass by which it is possible to either remove the bottom of a glass receptacle and re-weld it in a manner not observable, or it is possible to drill through an appropriate part of the wall of the receptacle and after filling weld the opening thus formed in a not readily detectable manner'.

It is, therefore, not sufficient to provide means to prevent liquid being introduced into a bottle or other receptacle through the opening from which liquid is intended to be discharged. Accordingly, the present invention provides the novel combination of means for preventing the refilling of a receptacle through the port or opening through which its contents is intended to be regularly discharged with means for prevent-y ing discharge of the contents of the same receptacle, if the receptacle be refilled by any means after it shall have been completely discharged through the regular discharge opening.

In other words, the novel idea of the present invention is directed to preventing discharge of the contents of a receptacle after the receptacle has once been emptied rather than, or supplemental to, the effort to prevent refilling, so that the present invention may be tersely described as a combination of parts providing a non-reemptyable receptacle.

With this and more detailed objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention includes. means, in combination with a receptacle, to control the once emptying of the contents of a filled receptacle, and thereafter prevent a second emptying thereof unless accompanied by such breakage as to plainly indicate the fact of the second iilling.

The invention further comprises a control of ythe measuring type for governing the discharge 1937, Serial N0. 159,967

of the contents of a receptacle and means cooperating therewith for precluding further discharge after an amount has been discharged substantially equal to the capacity of the receptacle.

The invention also includes in greater detail in such an arrangement means for preventing repetition of the measuring operation or restoration thereof to a condition enabling suchl repetition.

The invention also comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a structure embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a complete central section taken on substantially the same plane as the plane of the section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective of the 2 valve operating member forming part of the said invention;

Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are horizontal sections taken substantially on the planes indicated by the lines li-, 5 5, 5 5, and lof Figure 2;

Figure v8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary central vertical section through another modiiication.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated as applied to a glass bottle I5, of standard shape, provided with a neck II. The closure or cork for the bottle comprises a cylindrical stopper I2 provided with an annular groove I3 deep enough to receive and enclose a split washer I4 of springy material. The inner surface of the bottle neck II is also provided with a groove I5 adapted to register with the groove I3 in the stopper I 2. In applying the stopper to the bottle neck the split washer I4 is first sprung into the groove I3 and forced below the outer surface of the stopper. Next, the stopper and its split ring, is inserted in the mouth of the bottle neck and moved thereinto, until the split washer springs into the groove I5 while a substantial part of the washer remains in the groove I3 to lock the stopper permanently in sealing position.

The stopper is provided with an axial bore I6 to receive a shaft I'I having its upper end reduced to form a square sectioned lug I8 to which is cemented a knurled knob I9. At its lower end the shaft I5 is reduced to form a square sectioned lug 20 which is slidably mounted in a correspondingly sectioned axial bore 2l formed in the upper end of the shaft extension 22.

fr the shaft l1.

Vlo-naround theV end axes.

' ,15, cut avi/Tay.'y l Y The valve disk 41 is seated on,V a shoulderV 49 'I'he stopper is provided with a discharge aperture-23; and vis also provided with a cylindrical recess 24, the bottom of which forms a stop for one end of av compression spring 25Ycoiled around The other end lof the spring 25 .presses against a Valve disk 26 fixed tothe shaft 1 and provided with a series of apertures 26, 21, 28,Y and 29, equidistantly spaced from the axis of said shaft and equiangularly spaced 'Ihe lowerY face'of valve disk Y26 vhas an annular row of ratchet teeth 3l) formed thereon for yielding engagement Vwith a similar row of teeth 3l formedon the upper face of a cylindrie Vcalmeasuring block 32, axiallybored to receiveV slidably and rotatably the shaft or stem I1. The

Y upper and lower parts of the block 32 are formed as fixed disks 33 and 34, respectively, each provided with aseries of axially alined apertures. The-apertures 35, 36, 31, and 38 are adapted Y Vto register with the apertures 23, 21, 28, and 29, when the valve Vdisk 26 is in liquid dispensing position.V As shown in Figure 4 the valve disk 26" is locatedY in position to close the apertures- 25,135, as, ariane es.V

'ter with the apertures 43, a4, 45, and 4s, re-

spectively, Yformed in a valve disk 41 fixed to the As shown in Figures `3, 4,'

Y,40 for liquid to be measured between the opposite *ffaces of the fixed disks 33`and 34. It is obvious that by cutting' awaypartszof the cylindrical wall connecting the'said fixed disks,Y the volume o increased by the Yamount will `he correspondingly formed by an enlarged screw threaded lowerY part ofthe shaftextension 22. VA nut 5| is mounted Von the part 50 and is cut away to form radially f ,50` projecting lugs'l 52, 53,54, and V55 projecting intov Y ""'slots vFili,Vv 51, 58, and 59,v respectively, formed in acylindrical cage 60, which is seated and fixed at'its upper Vend in ari-,annular recess V5I formed 'inthe fixed VValve Vdisk Y34.

In theY modification illustrated in VtheV valve'disk 26'v ofiFigures 1 and 2 is replaced by a valve disk 62 having its lower face smooth Y to seat and rotatevwith the shaft 63 on the upper VVplaneendof a measuring block 64, which in every other respect is identical with measuring block 32. Y f Y Inrthis form, the valve disk 62 has an annular row of ratchet vteeth 65 formed on itsvupper face Yand adapted to ibe engaged bya leaf spring 56, 65V suitably secured at oneend to the lower face of the xed stopper 61. `The shaft 63 is made in one piece to `.replace the shaft l1 and its extension V22, since the modiiiedrat'chet mechanismdoes not require the shaft Yto reciprocate axially inrotate-in the mouth ofthe bottle neck Il..

. The apertures 39, 4i), 4I, and formed inv ,the fixed disk 34 are likewise'adapted Yto regis- 1 Y' Figure 8,

. In Y this form of the invention, all the elements, with the exception of shaft 59, are structurally the same as the elements shown in Figures 1 and 2, and are similarly secured to each other inthe bottle neck. Accordingly, such of thesesimilar elements as areshown in Figure 9 are identified by the `same reference numerals primed, and are Y not further described.-V a Y Y, The stopper 68 is Yprovided with an axial bore 10, square in cross-section and adapted to receive k slidably a similarly cross-sectioned lug 1| pro- 'jecting axially from the upper end of the shaft 69. Itis to beV understood that'the lower end of `shaft 59 is slidably Aconnected to an extension as V68 so asV to emerge at the outer end of the' axis thereof. In this form, part of the stopper projects outwardly from the bottle neck andforms Va hand grip'to facilitate turning of the stopperI andF the elementsY fixed thereto. Y l

It is believed the operation of the various yforms of this invention will be obvious to persons skilledY in the art without further description. However,V it should be understood that if an operator.- chooses, he can, at any time the apertures in the valve'disk 26' and the fixed disk 33fare in regis-if` tration, pour liquid through the discharge aper-:f

ture 23 and through these registering apertures into the measuring block 32. Of course,-.when the upper series of lapertureslare in this position, the apertures in the valve disk 41 are in closed position. Therefore, .when the measuring block 32 has been lledras indicated, the contents?,7,921JY thereof may be introduced into the bottle'itselff by giving thek knob I9 asufcientiturning mover ment to close the aperturesin the upper xed disk`33 and open those in the lower fixed disk 34. f Such an introductionV of liquid cannot be of any material value tothe operator, however, since he` has lost just. that' much in the longitudinal ,out-g ward movement'of the nut 5l, which isthe conf trollingrfactor inthe emptying of the receptacle. VY

When the nut 5|,has reached its limit ofmove-V ment toward thevalve disk 41, there is nothingV to allow the escapeof any liquid which might re-k main inthe bottle. Accordingly, thetlfireadedy part of the extension22 is made slightly longerY than the available number of dispensingmove-v` ments in the ratchet mechanism'in the upper end of the'closure, so as to provide for a complete emptying of the receptacle within reason-1` able limits, andjto insure against accidental-fmovement of the operating knob I9 having the effect of rendering some of the original' contents inaccessible. te.. After the bottle has once'been completely emptied and the'nut 5I has reached itslimit of travel j Y against the lower Valve disk,.any `filling of the bottle, as by the removal ofthe bottom thereof Y and re-welding of it would be of no value, since it is not possible to reaempty the'bottle after'itV has once been emptied through the aforesaid closure. Therefore, vthepresent invention insist re-emptying'of abottle refilled 4in ,some way through the body thereof. By this lmeans, the 5 public is assured of the genuineness of the original contents of the bottle. Y

The matter of construction provides for the possibility of some variation, but in order to insure the best results, it is desirable, wherever there is not an actual glass weld between two contacting glass portions, to provide for securing these parts together by a fusible cement between the separate parts which may be then fused together after being properly located in position.

It will, of course, be understood that reference herein and in the appended claims to the capacity of the present invention to preclude re-emptying of a container, refers to the fact that the container cannot be re-emptied a second time through the natural or prepared orice for emptying the contents, without some defect or alteration occurring and becoming apparent to show that the container has been refilled.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be preferred and practical embodiments of the invention, it will be understood tothose skilled in the art that'the details of construction are merely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A container for liquids provided with a. tubular neck, a stopper xed in the outer end of said neck and provided with a discharge aperture and an axial bore, a stem rotatable in said bore, an axially bored cylindrical block fixed in said neck and provided at its opposite ends with aligned apertures, said stem extending through the bore of said block and having fixed thereto a pair of apertured disks cooperating with the apertured ends of said block to control the discharge of liquid from the container into said block and from the block toward said discharge aperture alternately, and means tolimit the rotation of said stem to rotation in one direction only.

2. The combination set forth in claim 2, with means for preventing rotation of said stem in said direction after a predetermined number of rotations thereof.

3. A container for liquids provided with a tubular neck,a stopper fixed in the'outer end of said neck and provided with a discharge aperture and an axial bore, a stem rotatable in said bore, an axially bored cylindrical block fixed in said neck and provided at its opposite ends with aligned apertures and forming between said ends a measuring chamber, said stem extending through the bore of said block and having xed thereto a pair of disks provided with staggered apertures cooperating with the apertures in the ends of said block to control the discharge of liquid alternately from the container into said chamber and from said chamber toward the discharge aperture in said stopper, cooperating ratchet teeth formed on one of said ends and the upper disk to prevent rotation of said stern in one direction, means interposedV between said stopper and said disk to hold the disk with its ratchet teeth in contact with the teeth on said end, and means to limit the number of rotations of said stem in its permitted direction of rotation.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, in which the last named means comprises an externally screwthreaded extension of said stem, a cage xed to the lower end of said block, and a nut on said screw-threaded extension provided with means cooperating with said cage to limit the movements of the nut to axial sliding movement within said cage.

5. A container for liquids provided with a tubular neck, a stopper xed in the outer end of said neck and provided with a discharge aperture and an axial bore, a stem rotatable in said bore, an axially bored cylindrical block fixed in said neck and provided at its opposite ends with aligned apertures and forming between said ends a measuring chamber, said stem extending through the `bore of said block and having fixed thereto a pair of disks provided with staggered apertures cooperating with the apertures in the ends of said block to control the discharge ofA liquid alternately from the container into said chamber and from said chamber toward the discharge aperture in said stopper, an annular row of ratchet teeth formed on the upper face of the upper disk, a leaf spring pawl xed to the lower face of said stopper and contacting with the teeth of said row to prevent rotation of the stem in one direction, and means on the lower end of said stem to limit the number of rotations of said stem in its permitted direction of. rotation.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, in which the last named means comprises a screwthreaded extension of the stern, a cage xed to the lower end of said block, and a nut threaded on said extension and provided with means engaging said cage to limitthe movements of the nut to axial sliding movement along said extension.

7. A container for liquids provided with a tubular neck, a stopper lixed against axial movement in the outer end of said neck and provided with a discharge aperture and an axial bore, a stem rotatable in said bore, an axially bored cylindrical block fixed in said neck and provided at,

its opposite ends with aligned aperturesV and forming between said ends a measuring chamber,

vided with staggered apertures cooperating with f the apertures in the end of said block to control the discharge of liquid alternately from the container into said chamber and from said chamber toward the discharge aperture in said stopper, said stem being extensibley and provided at its lower end with external screwthreads, cooperating ratchet means between the upper end of said block and the upper apertured disk to prevent rotation of said stem in one direction, a cage secured to and depending from the lower end of saidblock and having a cross bar providedwith a step bearing for thek lower end of said stem, and

a nut on said external screwthreads and engaging4 said cage to slide lengthwise thereof and to limit the number of rotations of said stem in its permitted direction of rotation.

LESTER L. LEWIS. 

